Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-05-11
From the Richmond Dispatch.
LEXINGTON PRESBYTERY.

This Presbytery met at New Monmouth
church, Rockbridge county, Va, the 3rd OF
May. There were present twenty ministers
and nineteen elders-a very small number
even for the first day.
The Rev. DIR. Preston preached the opening
sermon on these words of Paul to the Philip
pians "Being confident of this very thing, that
He which hath begun good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christi
The Rey. A. Jones ,, was elected moderator,
Henry, of Staunton, temporary clerks.
Two of our candidates. who have just COM
pleted their studies in the seminary-Mess rs
A. W. Crawford and W. McF. Acknowledgements
dismissed, the former to Pennsylvania Presby-
terry, Kentucky, and the latter TO Savannah
Presbytery, Georgia, in which, respectively
they have been called to labor.
MIR. w. II. Sheppard our colored candidate,
was dismissed to Tuscaloosa Presby terry, Ala
bama, for the same reason. This leaves us no
one licensed to preach al this meeting.
The whole afternoon of to day was spent in
the discussion of Sabbath school work. 1.-THE
Great Object of the Sabbath School" was dis
cussed by the Rev. DR.. Halves and others. DR.
Preston, followed by several speakers, present
ed his views on the qualifications OF teachers
making some good practical points. The ques-
ton which called forth the most animated
and profitable remarks was "Out-Post Schools
Sunday Afternoon The Rev. A. Jones made
a strong Argument for this kind of effort, and
many striking facts were mentioned showing
the great good of such schools both to teachers
in this important and promising line Of Chris
tian effort.
SECOND DAY.
The Rev. G. l.. Wolfe, who was dismissed to
a presbytery in Texas, returned his certificate
continuing member of this body.
Licentiale w. G. White was received under
our care from the presbytery of West Hanover
Calls will be preseated for his services from
time set for his ordination and installation.
The Rev. d. G. Irwin was appointed chairman
of the Committee of Publication instead of DR..
Preston, resigned.
The resignation of the pastorate of Messy
Creek church by the Rev. f. G. Bailey was ac-
cepted, and permission was granted 10 him to
labor without or within our bounds until the
next stated meeting.
The following commissioners were elected to
attend the General Assembly at st. Louis:
Drs Preston and Vaughan, with Elders Judge
Grattan, of Harrisonburg, and William With.
row, of WaynesborO'.
The next stated meeting will be held at Mas
sanutten church, in Rockingham county.
A number of overtures in the hands of
committee. all of which were strongly opposed
to organic union with the Northern Presby-
terrain Church.
The call OF Asheville church North Carolina
was placed in the hands of the Rev. w. s.
Randolph Co., w. Va was present to resist his
removal. 1t is understood that he will go to
Asheville.
The following churches have been greatly
blessed during the past year: Bethel received
% members on profession; First church, Staun-
ton. 81; Mt. Horeb. 81; Mt. Carmel, 81; Tinkling
z, 1y
Beverly "a; Augusta 81; Cook Creek, Al; Pendle,
ton, 10; Clarksburg Cen trail is. These additions
were brought into the churches by the pastors.
assisted by neighboring ministers, without the
aid in any case of a special evangelist.
An adjourned meeting will be held at the
Warm Springs the 18TH of June to ordaiu and
install Mr.. W. G. White as pastor of the church
there. The Rev DR.. Halves and ReVs D.. A.
Penick and r. F. Campbell were appointed to
conduct the services of the occasion.
A committee was appoin ted to prepare his
torical sketch OF the presbytery for the ceuten-
NAL meeting of the synod next year; aud each
church in our bounds was directed 0 furnish a
sketch of1tself for the use of this committee
The Rev. DR.. Quarles, Rev. D. G. Irwin. Elders
]. A. Waddell. Jed. Hotehk ISIS, Prof. ]. J. W hite
and Col. Preston were appointed for this work.
The Rev. l. Il. Johnston was allowed to re-
sign the passionate of enron church to accept
a call to HarrisOnburg. He will be Installed
there the second Sabbath of next month.
The afternoon session was in large part &C.
cupled by the discussion of home MISSIONS
The work is generally encouraging. several
accessions approaching thus self-sustaining
condition. The demand for church buildings
is greater than can be met.
The next STATE ed meeting will be held the 18th
of September at MassaDutten church.
FOURTH DAY
This morning the Rev. Mr.. Bryan, formally
accepted the call to Asheville. and bis rela-
lions with Tygart's- Valley and Mingo- Flats
churches, which he has served for nine years
with very great success, were dissolved.
The Rev. DR.. d w. Shanks, of Montgomery
responding member.
The report on Sabbath schools exhibits
growth in this departm ent of work. The whole
number of teachers enrolled is 724; of scholars,
555S-an increase over last year of 70 and 703,
respectively. Outpost schools Sabbath after
moons are doing much to extend the influence
of many ofour churches.
The following Overtures to the assembly were
adopted: l. That the constitution be changed
10 provide that, instead or allowing a majority
of the presbyteries to determine the question
OF organic union with other churches, three
fourths of the resbyteries must approve such
a step 2. That an amendment be proposed
providing that the clerks of our church courts
be elected for Terms of three years instead OF
during the pleasure of the court" 3. That we
are satisfied with the present relations of the
Northern Presbyterian Church with our own
and believe that any movement in the direc-
tion OF organic union will create or foster div1-
sion of sentiment In our Church, which we
would greatly deplore. We overture the AS
sembly therefore not to take any such steps s
those indicated by the appointment of COM
mittee or otherwise for bringing the churches
into closer relations than those which now
exist. This was adopted almost unanimously
DIR. c. r. Vaughan made strong speech
against organic union.
An increased interest In the foreign mi ssion
work is reported among our people, the amount
raised for their object the past year being sew
eral hundred dollars in advance of any pre-
ceding year. We undertake to raise 81 400 this
year.
Only few items of routine business are left
for tomorrow, A. II, III,